A partner is a third-party individual, consultant, or company that collaborates with a software vendor to achieve shared business objectives. Partners are instrumental in accelerating growth and driving customer acquisition all without increasing internal headcount. They act as an extension of the company’s sales, marketing, and customer success teams, leveraging their own expertise, networks and resources to drive value for both parties.

Partners can take on various roles and responsibilities, depending on the nature of the partnership.

• Affiliate partners focus on generating leads and driving traffic to the company's website through their own marketing channels, earning commissions for successful referrals.
• Referral partners leverage their existing relationships and trust to recommend the company's products or services to their network, earning rewards for qualified leads or closed deals.
• Reseller or co-sell partners purchase the company's products or services at a discounted rate and then resell them to their own customers, adding their own value and expertise to the offering.

In addition to these common partner definitions, there are also technology partners, where companies act as a partner and integrate their software platforms to offer a more comprehensive solution.